According to people in this career, the main tasks are...
| Task | Importance |
|---|---|
| Buy merchandise or commodities for resale to wholesale or retail consumers. | 91% |
| Negotiate prices, discount terms, or transportation arrangements with suppliers. | 86% |
| Consult with store or merchandise managers about budgets or goods to be purchased. | 83% |
| Examine, select, order, or purchase merchandise consistent with quality, quantity, specification requirements, or other factors, such as environmental soundness. | 82% |
| Provide clerks with information to print on price tags, such as price, mark-ups or mark-downs, manufacturer number, season code, or style number. | 82% |
| Recommend mark-up rates, mark-down rates, or merchandise selling prices. | 81% |
| Obtain information about customer needs or preferences by conferring with sales or purchasing personnel. | 80% |
| Authorize payment of invoices or return of merchandise. | 78% |
| Monitor and analyze sales records, trends, or economic conditions to anticipate consumer buying patterns, company sales, and needed inventory. | 77% |
| Collaborate with vendors to obtain or develop desired products. | 74% |
| Train or supervise sales or clerical staff. | 74% |
| Inspect merchandise or products to determine quality, value, or yield. | 69% |
| Monitor competitors' sales activities by following their advertisements in newspapers or other media. | 67% |
| Determine which products should be featured in advertising, the advertising medium to be used, or when the ads should be run. | 67% |
| Conduct sales meetings to introduce new merchandise. | 64% |
| Analyze environmental aspects of competing merchandise when making buying decisions. | 62% |
| Compare transportation options to determine the most energy-efficient options. | 61% |
| Develop strategies to advertise green products or merchandise to consumers. | 51% |
| Identify opportunities to buy green commodities, such as alternative energy, water, or carbon-neutral products for resale to consumers. | 49% |
| Monitor consumer preferences or environmental trends to determine the best way to introduce new green products. | 48% |
